A new study by the Learn to Read Foundation has revealed a severe foundational literacy gap in Ghana, with only one in five children able to read at the expected level, according to its founder, Rejoice Sefakor Adzivor.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (21 April), Adzivor said the situation is even more alarming in deprived communities, where many children struggle to read and understand basic texts despite being enrolled in school.
“When it comes to foundational literacy in Ghana, you would actually find just one out of five kids that are able to read,” she said, describing the figure as “huge,” particularly for disadvantaged areas.
Founded in 2018, the Learn to Read Foundation works in deprived communities by setting up libraries, donating and stocking books, and organising spelling bees, writing competitions, mentorship programmes and community reading sessions.
Adzivor said the organisation began with personal savings before attracting support from partners such as Ideas and Books Africa, the Samira Bawumia Empowerment Foundation, and Women Changemakers for Education.
Despite these partnerships, she said funding remains a major constraint, especially in sustaining back-to-school support programmes and supplying learning materials.
“Even as a human being, when you are going to buy something, you need money. Without money, you can’t purchase anything,” she said.
She explained that the foundation often follows up on communities after book donations to assess progress, noting that impact is measured when children can voluntarily pick and read books without being prompted.
Adzivor also highlighted broader consequences of low literacy levels, warning that children who cannot read are limited in their future opportunities.
“If a child doesn’t know how to read, and that child wants to become a doctor, how is that going to be possible?” she asked, adding that weak foundational skills could affect Ghana’s future supply of professionals such as doctors, teachers and nurses.
She attributed her decision to establish the foundation to her upbringing in a deprived community, saying her early experiences shaped her commitment to addressing inequality in education.
Beyond literacy work, Adzivor is also involved in women’s advocacy in media and film, where she says access to opportunity remains a challenge for many women.
She urged greater collaboration between government and NGOs in education policy and implementation, arguing that grassroots organisations often have first-hand insight into challenges on the ground.
Looking ahead, she announced a virtual reading summit scheduled for Saturday to mark World Book Day, aimed at promoting reading among parents, educators and children under the theme “Go all in.”
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